PETIT WEEK IN WINE | July 26 - July 30 2023 | |
This week it's all about Santa Barbara and Stolpman Vineyards!
Stop in and learn about the Ballard Canyon AVA of Santa Barbara County AND enjoy a FIVE Wine Tasting Flight from the crown jewel producer of this area, Stolpman Vineyards.
Located in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley in the Central Coast of California, Ballard Canyon's north-to-south orientation provides a unique weather pattern of wind, fog, and maritime influence. Stolpman's magic in the bottle starts with combining these conditions with vineyards that lie atop one of the largest limestone outcroppings in the region!
I think you'll be quite impressed with this week's line-up - it's all about Rhône varietals that thrive in the appellation and under the meticulous care of Pete Stolpman, the 2nd generation vigneron.
The $20 tasting flight of five wines starts with Roussanne, a late-ripening full-bodied white varietal, and then moves on to an exploration of Syrah, the AVAs most prized possession.
Join us! The flight start today at both locations. And I hope you are able to visit with us during these dog days of summer - It's all about STOLPMAN VINEYARDS, the best value for money from Santa Barbara's Ballard Canyon.
For more information about our tasting room hours, an AVA overview, and additional information on the featured wines, please read on!
Cheers & stay hydrated-
Mark
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BEAT THE HEAT with this Classic Rosé from an exceptional location on the peninsula of Saint-Tropez
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2022 Vintage Notes: This vintage is a smart blend of a selection of Designation grapes with the winery’s own grapes. The winemaking process is executed with Minuty’s perfect understanding of winemaking temperatures that are low enough to lock in the grapes’ aromatic potential but high enough to bring out their subtleties. It blends Grenache for its elegant aromas, Syrah for its aromatic complexity, Cinsault for its vibrancy and Rolle, a top Provence white grape variety, for its earthy aromas. | |
CHÂTEAU MINUTY
"Prestige de Minuty" Rosé 2022
Côtes de Provence, FR
$39/btl retail
$37.05/btl (6pk Offer Price)
$35.10/btl (12pk Offer Price)
Varietal: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Rolle. Selection of free-run and press juice, cold soaking and fermenting, no malolactic fermentation.
Tasting Notes: Shimmering pink with crisp aromas that pack a punch with yellow grapefruit, white-currant, blood orange and fresh berries such as raspberry. It’s just as crisp, strong and clean on the palate with a lovely salty and zingy aftertaste. This is a vibrant wine that packs a punch.
Pairing: The lovely earthy aftertaste is ideal for seafood, with salty oysters making a match made in heaven as well as whelks, clams and anything on a seafood platter. Fish ceviche and sushi, California rolls and grilled fish work just as well. Let’s not forget Italian cuisine with classic trattoria dishes including veal Milanese and spaghetti alle vongole or delicious Provençale specialties such as stuffed vegetables.
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EMAIL YOUR CHATEAU MINUTY 2022 ROSÉ WISHES TO: Jeremie@petitphilippe.com | | | |
Founded by Tom and Marilyn Stolpman in 1990 after a two year search across California for Limestone near the ocean. This 220 acre estate, planted to over 150 acres of vines, rests directly atop one of the largest limestone outcroppings in the region. The property lies on a series of gently undulating hills that provide a wide range of unique exposures and microclimates which allow for a remarkably extensive spectrum of grape varieties to thrive. Syrah, Roussanne, and Sangiovese are the biggest specialties of the estate, but everything from Sauvignon Blanc to Gamay and even the rare Trousseau grape grow and succeed here. Notably the Stolpman Vineyard is one of the few vineyards in Santa Barbara County that is dry-farmed, and thus it typically produces low yields of highly complex and concentrated fruit. | |
Father & Son team: Pete & Tom Stolpman | |
Under the leadership of Pete & Jessica Stolpman since 2009, Stolpman has continued to raise the bar by making improvements to the winery (custom concrete and carbonic fermenting tanks), and experimenting with varietals under the care of tenured vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano. | |
Winemaking
From pruning through bottling, Stolpman Vineyards rely on the passion and dedication of the small team at the winery to optimize each vintage. The main four points are:
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By Hand: It’s all about the vineyard - which is why it is paramount to employ a highly skilled full-time work-force, La Cuadrilla. We take care of them, and they take the most precise care of our vines. In an era when the wine industry is moving towards mechanization, Stolpman Vineyards has gone the opposite direction. Vines are only touched by the hands of La Cuadrilla, no tractors. We spare no effort in meticulous pruning cuts, vine training, and adjustments.
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A Long Harvest: The vineyard is planted to give us a strategically long harvest from early ripening Sauvignon Blanc and Trousseau - through a variety of different Syrah farming techniques - to the late ripening Grenache, Mourvedre, and finally - Roussanne. Spreading out harvest to almost 3 months allows us to ponder each picking decision, always with the goal to nail the combination of bright fresh energy and decadent, coating ripeness. We make multiple harvest passes in a single row, picking only the visually ripe fruit and allowing other bunches a few more days to hang on the vine.
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Serene Fermentation: With La Cuadrilla’s tenderly-loved fruit coming into the winery, we can allow grapes to ferment with a gentle guiding hand. We favor naked fermentation with no inoculation, sulfur, or other additions. In many cases we choose not to crush the grapes or we leave bunches whole – aiming for light, nuanced extraction. Fruit destined for red wine is foot trod and gently circulated to avoid coarse obstructive notes.
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Age: Always searching for the marriage of distinct fresh fruit purity and integrated, fleshed-out, seamless textures – we vary aging regimens from just a few months to over two years – dependent on the wine’s raw power and concentration. New Oak is only used to frame Roussanne’s viscosity and all other wines see only used wood. We bottle many cuvees within the So Fresh and Combe brands with no sulfur and for wines aged longer, minimal sulfur additions are used to keep the wines fresh and stable.
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Jessica & Pete Stolpman with Otto & August. | |
Ballard Canyon AVA
Right smack in the middle of the greater Santa Ynez AVA lies this north-south oriented sub-AVA making a name for itself behind its mouthwatering Syrah. 50% of this region is devoted to this grape making it the only AVA in the USA devoted to this grape. Another 30% of plantings are to its fellow Rhône varieties like Grenache, Viognier and Roussanne. Because of its unique orientation, climate is the most mixed here. Huge diurnal shifts with daytime temperatures peaking 90 °F and nighttime getting down to 40 °F combined with fog in the south that burns off later than the higher elevations in the north, yields fully ripe blackberry and blueberry flavored Syrah with racy acidity levels and a silky texture. Syrah wines from here are noted for having more weight and concentration than a French Syrah (from Northern Rhône) but more vibrancy and freshness than warmer regions like Napa.
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Join us this week as we feature FIVE wines from Stolpman Vineyards prominently featuring the Ballad Canyon AVA!
Stolpman Vineyards
"Uni" White Blend 2021 - $29 btl/retail
Ballard Canyon, CA
Stolpman Vineyards
Roussanne 2019 - $32 btl/retail
Ballard Canyon, CA
Stolpman Vineyards
"La Cuadrilla" Red Blend 2022 - $26 btl/retail
Ballard Canyon, CA
Stolpman Vineyards
"Para Maria" Red Blend 2021 - $27 btl/retail
Santa Barbara County, CA
Stolpman Vineyards
Estate Syrah 2021 - $34 btl/retail
Ballard Canyon, CA
| Tasting Flight of 5 Wines - $20 (2.5oz pours each) | |
MYERS PARK:
4:30 - 6:30pm Wednesday
4:30 - 7:30pm Thursday & Friday
1:00 - 7:30pm Saturday
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SOUTH END:
5:30 - 9:00pm Wedn - Thurs - Friday
1:00 - 9:00pm Saturday
1:00 - 5:30pm Sunday
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>> Tasting Flight Offerings: | |
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Stolpman Vineyards
"Uni" White Blend 2021
Ballard Canyon, CA
$29 btl/retail
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The "Uni" white blend of Roussanne & Chardonnay is full of ripe fruit intensity, and a coating, thick mid-palate that delivers a hedonistic “wow” factor not often found in white wines. The Chardonnay lends a structured back-bone that refreshes the palate once the Roussanne’s up-front wave of flavor ebbs.
VARIETAL/WINEMAKING: 70% Roussanne, 30% Chardonnay. Native fermentation in neutral 500L French puncheons. Aged for 5 months.
TASTING NOTES: Golden Pineapple, white flowers, and Asian pear backed by tangerine citrus. Delightful fuzziness all over from the nose through the mouth. Fresh, crunchy acidity compliments the full bodied richness of the mid-palate and provides a titillating cut under the fleshy, cloudy textures. It is rare to find so much zest and energy in such a coating white wine!
PAIRING: Like Santa Barbara’s most famous delicacy, sea urchin harvested off the California Channel Islands, the "Uni" white wine combines decadent richness with delicate precision. Stolpman originally created Uni in 2016 as an exclusive for the Uchi sushi group out of Austin, Texas. Enjoy this white blend with fresh flavors from the sea!
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Stolpman Vineyards
Rousanne 2019
Ballard Canyon, CA
$32 btl/retail
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Grown on the southern section of the Stolpman Estate, near 34 degrees latitude, gives the Roussanne its characteristic rust color (Rousse). The long ripening season also helps achieve a maximum varietal signature.
VARIETAL/WINEMAKING: 88% Roussanne, 12% Chardonnay. Fermented & aged in 80% used, 20% new French 500L Ermitage Mt. La Vache Forest puncheon. Aged for 9 months in oak. Racked in May to 60% used, 40% new French 500L puncheon.
TASTING NOTES: Aromas of Asian pear and honeysuckle sprinkled with citrus tell the tale of a rich, indulgent Roussanne ready to coat the palette in full-bodied splendor. On the nose, one can almost smell the rich texture and the mouthfeel doesn't disappoint. While opulence carries the day, complimentary notes of lychee, lemongrass, and jasmine bring a more delicate prettiness. Aromas of white flower give further lift while golden hay (the only evidence of oak barrels) bring the wine to a long, luxurious finish.
PAIRING: Does well with Asian cuisine that has some spicy notes, and citrus. Think Thai or Vietnamese noodle dishes for inspiration.
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Stolpman Vineyards
"La Cuadrilla" Red Blend 2022
Ballard Canyon, CA
$26 btl/retail
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Named after the year-round vineyard workers at Stolpman, La Cuadrilla, this red blend orginated with idea of giving the team a sense of ownership thanks to their hard work. All profits from this blend are returned to crew members via year-end and weekly bonuses.
VARIETAL/WINEMAKING: 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre, 5% Sangiovese. 30% whole-cluster vinification with open-top concrete fermentation taking place in tanks for 21 days. Aged in 100% neutral French Ermitage 500L oak Puncheons for 6 months.
TASTING NOTE: Soft and becoming deep purple plum brimmed with a crackling flame of red. A coating plushness fills the mouth prior to lifted fresh red fruits rising again towards the finish. The red fruits fill a spectrum from firm cherry to riper berry coulis. Subtle acidity married with the red berry fruit and loamy, silty tannin all combine to last in the mouth for minutes in a delicately balanced, feathered finish.
PAIRING: Goes well with your favorite wild mushroom raviolis or classic lasagna. Can stand up to bolder tomato-based sauces.
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Stolpman Vineyards
"Para Maria" Red Blend 2021
Santa Barbara County, CA
$27 btl/retail
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The Para Maria Blend is a 50-50 partnership between the Stolpman and Solorzano families. As managers at the vineyard, Ruben and Maria opt not to take a cut of Stolpman’s profit sharing program, La Cuadrilla.
VARIETAL/WINEMAKING: 80% Syrah, 20% Petit Verdot. 50% of Syrah Whole-cluster carbonic un-crushed for 9 days, 50% of Syrah de-stemmed. 100% of Petite Verdot de-stemmed. Native fermentation in stainless steel. 100% Neutral oak for 9 months.
TASTING NOTE: An inviting nose of lavender over crunchy, dark berries and spice. Exceptionally supple and soft from front to mid-palate. Understated balancing acidity shows itself as a fresh, lively perk on the finish. Medium bodied perfection: always our intent via the low-extraction utilization of 50% un-crushed “carbonic” Syrah. With time in the glass, unctuous purple undertones develop alongside a vibrant mulberry-strawberry fruit profile which continues to evolve into rhubarb pie topped with cream.
PAIRING: Pairs well with grilled pork chops and or roasted eggplant. This Syrah prominent blend also shines with dishes that feature roasted garlic.
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Stolpman Vineyards
Estate Syrah 2021
Ballard Canyon, CA
$34 btl/retail
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Year after year, the wine’s richness + liveliness 1-2 combo showcases Ballard Canyon’s cold nights and the short period of daytime warmth in between Pacific fog and cool wind. Stolpman’s limestone subsoil elevates the bright natural acidity. Ruben Solorzano’s refusal to give the vines irrigation during much of the always-dry growing season lends terrific concentration.
VARIETAL/WINEMAKING: 100% Syrah. 10% whole-cluster. Native fermentation in concrete ranging from 15 to 25 days. 100% Neutral French Ermitage 500L Oak Puncheons for 9 months.
TASTING NOTE: Another blockbuster Estate Syrah vintage following a hit parade of recent vintages. Spades of brimming energy but already in its youth, supple, rich, and polished. Pure yumminess, yet intriguingly carnal and raw with a blazing fire inside. A perfect combo of opulence and high-toned pizzazz. The two marry to create a wonderfully classic edition of Estate Syrah.
PAIRING: This is the one to enjoy with your Chateaubriand and/or Wagyu beef cuts over wood-fired coals.
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704.332.9910 (Myers Park) | 704.332.9913 (South End)
mark@petitphilippe.com | www.petitphilippe.com
Wine Emergency? text us at 415.306.4283
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